Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in combination with behavioral therapies to treat opioid use disorders helps reduce rates of illicit use and overdose by reestablishing normal brain functioning, reducing drug cravings, and preventing relapse (Kampman et al., 2015). MAT also lowers the risk of contracting infectious diseases (Tsui et al., 2014; Metzger et al., 1993).  Research supports the perspective that opioid addiction is a chronic medical disorder that can be treated effectively with medications and supportive services such as psychosocial counseling, treatment for co-occurring disorders, motivational counseling, and vocational rehabilitation (SAMHSA, 2005).

For more information on Medication Assisted treatment, visit:
SAMHSA- Medication Assisted Treatment
PCSS-MATT- Medication Assisted Treatment
Missouri Department of Mental Health – Medication Assisted Treatment
Medication-Assisted Treatment Improves Outcomes for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder
American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence – Resources

The primary medications used to treat OUD are:

• Buprenorphine
• Methadone
• Naltrexone

*Information provided on this site is not intended to cover everything –there are many places to find helpful information about opioid use disorder treatment. To learn more, we suggest visiting the following sites:

For information on available drug treatment:

• Visit the SAMHSA Treatment Locator or call the National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP or 1-800-487-4889 (TDD-for hearing impaired)
• Visit SAMHSA Treatment Provider Locator to locate buprenorphine prescribers near you
• Visit SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator to search by address, city or zip code
• Visit NCADA- Find Help or call 314-962-3456 to talk to a counselor for information, support, arrange an assessment or receive referrals.
• Visit MO Network for Opioid Reform- Outreach Center to schedule an appointment or MO Network for Opioid Reform- Get Help for treatment referrals or intervention requests
• Visit MO Department of Mental Health-How to Get Help for directories of treatment programs
• For additional resources to locate opiate rehab centers and programs, visit http://www.opiate.com/drug-rehab/ or call the 24-hour addiction hotline at 800-584-3274

Below are links to a small subset of research conducted on opioid use disorder treatment. For a more comprehensive reference list, please see: Overdose Prevention Alliance and CTN Dissemination Library

World Health Organization: Guidelines for the Psychosocially Assisted Pharmacological Treatment of Opioid Dependence

AHQR Technical Brief 28: Medication- Assisted Treatment Models of Care for Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care Settings

Long term retention in Office Based Opioid Treatment with buprenorphine

Models of Integrated Patient Care through OTPs and DATA 2000 Practices

Integrated Service Delivery Models for Opioid Treatment Programs in an Era of Increasing Opioid Addiction, Health Reform, and Parity

Increasing Access to Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction in Drug Courts and Correctional Facilities and Working Effectively with Family Courts and Child Protective Services

For Buprenorphine Waiver- Medication-Assisted Treatment Trainings offered throughout the state of Missouri, visit here.

For training, webinars, toolkits and additional resources related to addressing opioid misuse, visit: Taking Action to Address Opioid Misuse , Reducing Substance Use Disorders, and Opioid Use, Misuse, and Overdose in Women